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Recently, the G.I. Joe Stop-Motion Film Festival came to my attention and I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know about it sooner. I’m taking a step to remedy that oversight by bringing you the exclusive new announcement trailer from the festival’s official rollout. As you might have guessed from the name of the festival, it’s a showcase of indie filmmakers whose particular canvas is that of stop-motion animation using the beloved action figures. Beyond that, just about anything goes, and that creative freedommakes for some fantastic artistry on display.

In 2005, the G.I. Joe Stop-Motion Film Festival was created by Gio Toninelo “to celebrate the dying art form of stop-motion while paying tribute to America’s favorite movable fighting man: the G.I. Joe Action Figure (or Action Man in UK).” The festival includes screenings, competitions and workshops that showcase the sub-genre’s best work within the genre. Stop-motion artists, including up-and-coming filmmakers as well as masters of the craft, use G.I. Joe action figures (12 inch and 3 ¾ inch sizes) as main characters or actors in wildly original films. There’s a strong indie spirit at this festival, as you can see on display in the trailer below, which remains the driving force behind challenging and advancing the conventions of stop-motion animation.

Currently, the festival’s circuit, which will start in Denver this September, plans to travel to Seattle, Los Angeles, Austin, and New York with more destinations yet to be announced. Keep your eyes peeled for more details as the year goes on and get ready to shout “Yo Joe!” along with the crowd.

Find out what you’re in store for at the G.I. Joe Stop-Motion Film Festival by checking out our exclusive reveal of their announcement trailer:

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If you’re interested in submitting your own entry, there are only two main rules for the festival:

1- Your film MUST be shot using stop-motion technique. Puppetry, wires and live action could also be used as long as it does not comprise 30% of the entire film.

2- Your main character MUST be an official G.I. Joe action figure, created by Hasbro, Inc. or an Action Man figure, created by Palitoy. Other licensed figures are also accepted, like “Comandos em Acao” and “Falcon” (BRAZIL) or “Commandos Heroicos” (MEXICO). Other action figures, dolls and toys can be used for supporting roles.